Return Chapter 4

July 4th 2017

Artemis woke up from the sun shining through her window and hitting her in the face. But she didn't want to wake up she wanted to stay in bed all day. Today was the day all of her life plans died, side by side with Wally. Pulling the covers over her head Artemis closed her eyes letting her thoughts drift to Wally. She thought about the first day she meet him, he was planning on going to the beach and tripped over his parasol causing her to tease him. To when he stood by her decision to go after her sister boosting her confidence and her feelings towards him. And of course when they both put their stubbornness aside and kissed each other on New Year's on top of the Watchtower. During their five year relationship he managed to forget Valentine's four times in a row, which annoyed her but she loved him for it any ways. They lived together, went to school together so many of her happiest memories were connected with him, and they always would be. After forty minutes of crying for her fist love Artemis moved from underneath the covers to her bathroom, she let herself cry again in the shower deciding she needed to get it all out now and not in front of Dick.

After dressing in pants with a black t-shirt and her combat boots she headed towards her front room expecting to see Dick in her kitchen making breakfast like usual since it was already eleven. But Artemis stopped short Dick was nowhere in sight. Frowning she went back down the hallway to her guest bedroom. She knocked on the door and waited a couple seconds for an answer but none came.

"Dick" she called out.

"Dick are you in there?" she called out again.

After no replies Artemis finally opened the door. The bedroom was exactly how she left it before Dick showed up and started sleeping in her guest room. The bed was neatly made, the chair to the desk was pushed in, and the dresser and the closet were completely empty only leaving the extra sheets in the dresser. There were no traces of Dick ever being in the room.

Stunned Artemis walked back to her living room; there was no note anywhere in the kitchen or living room. The only trace of Dick Grayson being in her house was the left over healthy food that only Dick would eat in her fridge.

Going to her room Artemis grabbed her leather jacket, stashed her crossbow in her pant leg, and grabbed her breaking into an apartment kit, something she really needed a name for. Grabbing her keys off the counter Artemis rushed down the stairs and towards the nearest zeta tube.

Looking around her Artemis crouched in front of the apartment door in one of the fanciest buildings in Bludhaven. She wasn't sure what kind of security Dick had set on his apartment but she needed to see if he was here, and no one answered the door when she knocked.

Click

Smiling Artemis stood up opening the door. Artemis had never been in Dick's apartment before. The walls were painted in a light grey color and all the furniture was soft black leather. Luckily no alarm went off and no one attacked her, at least she didn't hear an alarm. The apartment was covered with floor to ceiling windows. The kitchen was done in black cabinets with silver stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops. The apartment was two stories so Artemis went up the stairs looking for Dick's bedroom. On the walls were pictures of Dick, Tim, Bruce, Alfred and Barbara. At the top of the stairs was a picture of the original team in their civilian clothes. Dick and Wally stood side by side with their arms draped over each other's shoulders with large cheesy grins on their faces. Artemis smiled trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over.

Taking a deep breath Artemis turned away from the picture and stepped onto the second floor landing. There were three doors and Artemis decided to go in the first door on the left. Opening the door Artemis found a neat and organized guest bedroom, with a black and blue bed, a large flat screen TV sitting on the dresser. Attached to the room was a walk in closet and a private bathroom. Closing the door Artemis went across the hall deciding to try the other room. But the door was locked obviously it was something private to Dick so Artemis left it alone moving towards the door at the end of the hallway.

Dick's master bedroom was decorated like the rest of his apartment in black and grey. He had a king size bed with a gigantic TV hanging on the wall. The wall opposite of the door was all glass which seemed creepy to Artemis but Dick could be a creepy guy so she understood. On the bed lay a black duffle bag with the clothes neatly set to the side. Obviously Dick had been here but he was no longer here. Sighing Artemis left his bedroom going back downstairs trying to decide where she wanted to try next. When she walked past the couch towards the door something on the couch caught her eye. Looking down she saw a picture of Dick, Wally and herself at her high school graduation. Dick had finally hit puberty and was no taller than her. The three of them stood with their arms wrapped around each other laughing. That's when she knew where to find him. Setting the picture down Artemis left the apartment.

Artemis arrived in downtown Central City within minutes. Taking a deep breath she headed towards her destination somewhere she refused to go back to. She was a few feet away when she saw him sitting in front of a grave. Dick sat with his legs crossed in front of the headstone that she had only seen once but was too familiar with.

"You could have at least left a note" Artemis said sitting down next to him.

Dick continued to stare at the headstone "I know but I figured you wouldn't want me around considering what day is".

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't blame you for what happened. He made his choice he was doing what he knew was right and what he believed in, it's no one's fault except for the light who set those damn devices up" Artemis said.

Dick sighed "I know, I'm sorry I left. I'm guessing you went to my apartment".

Artemis nodded her head "Yeah, why'd you pack up all your stuff? I told you that you were welcome to stay with me as long as you want".

"I need to get back on my feet be an adult again, stop running and face my problems" Dick said "I can't do that living with you, no matter how much I want to stay".

"This doesn't mean your completely deserting me again does it?" Artemis asked turning to face him.

Dick looked at her "Of course not I'm here to stick around 'Mis, I'm not leaving again. I promise" he said never letting his eyes leave hers.

Artemis smiled "Good because I don't think I could take you leaving again".

Dick smiled wrapping his arms around her shoulder "I don't think I could take leaving you again either".

Artemis smiled resting her head on his shoulder. The two sat in silence looking at the grave that read Wally West November 11, 1994 – June 20 2016 Loving son, boyfriend and amazing friend he will never be forgotten underneath the writing was the Flash symbol.

"I miss him every day" Artemis said quietly.

"Me to, I don't think there'll ever be a day I don't miss him" Dick said just as quietly.

"It's getting easier but it still hurts" Artemis said.

Dick nodded his head "I know" he didn't say anything for a while just sitting there holding Artemis securely to his side. "Come on I'll drive you home" he said getting up and offering his hand to her.

Artemis took it allowing him to help her up "Let's just stay at your place".

"Whatever you want to do" Dick said shoving his hands in his pockets as they walked towards the zeta tube.

"I've got extra clothes in the guest bedroom if you want to change" Dick said as they sat down on his couch.

Artemis raised her eyebrow smirking at him "Still living up to your 'dog' reputation hey boy wonder?"

Dick just smiled "So I happen to have some clean extra female clothes you gonna tease me about it or you're going to accept it so you can sleep comfortably tonight".

"Oh I'm going to do both you dog" Artemis said smiling.

Dick smiled shaking his head "Just so you know I haven't lived up to my 'dog' reputation as you and Wally like to call it in almost a year".

Artemis snorted "Almost a year, how long exactly is that?"

Dick rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly "About six months".

Artemis snorted "That's half a year Dick; you still have another six months to make it an actual year".

"Hey it's a major improvement for me" Dick said indigently.

Artemis laughed leaning against his shoulder "I'm sure it is Dick. I'm starving what about you?"

Dick relaxed into his couch leaning his head back "Yeah I am to, there isn't really any food here that isn't molded, but I have a drawer filled with takeout menus, you can pick whatever you want".

"Don't you have someone that comes in and cleans this place?" Artemis asked looking around to see all the dust that gathered on his furniture.

"I did but I gave her a six month long vacation when I disappeared. I'll have to call her back" Dick said looking around his apartment as well.

Artemis' eyes widened "You gave your house keeper a six month long vacation, paid?"

Dick shrugged "Yeah she deserved it after cleaning up after me for over a year".

"Holy shit how much money do you make Dick?" Artemis asked.

"I'm Bruce Wayne's ward, and head of his overseas business, I make a lot of money Artemis. Take all of your bills and times them by ten, and you'll be close" Dick said smiling at her.

"Jeez I really am in the wrong business. Well it's a good thing you're buying dinner than" Artemis said standing up and moving towards the kitchen.

Dick just smiled grabbing the remote off the coffee table and turning on the TV to flicker through the various channels. Eventually Artemis decided on Chinese and called in the order. The two sat on his living room floor eating Chinese food and reminiscing about their teenage days as super hero's.